The Arts to Feature in National Curriculum. (August 26, 1011)

In a joint media release the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett, and the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development, Local Government and Minister for the Arts, Simon Crean, announced that the "Arts will be given a central place in the new Australian Curriculum..."

Mr Garrett said:

During that extensive consultation ACARA [Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority] received a lot of feedback and suggestions about the best way to teach the Arts in our schools, including the need to maintain specialist teaching [TFW's emphasis]. We’ve listened to those suggestions and the final shaping paper released today reflects the views of our arts and education leaders, schools and parents. It is really important that every kid in Australia, no matter where they live or what school they attend, has the opportunity to engage with the arts, to broaden their understanding of the world through experiencing various art forms, and to have the confidence to show their creativity. The fact that the Arts curriculum is the second to be developed, after the foundation subjects of maths, science, English and history, demonstrates the Gillard Government’s commitment to fostering creativity and recognising that the Arts are at the centre of our way of life.

According to Mr Crean the Arts curriculum will ensure young Australians have access to learning in the creative arts: That’s why the development of a renewed National Cultural Policy is vital, because the creative arts empower the individual and underpins expression, tolerance and inclusion. The arts are fundamental to our way of life and not just for their entertainment value.

It is understood that under the new curriculum, students will study all five arts subjects – dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts – from their first year of school to the end of primary school. Once in high school, students will be able to start specialising in one or more of their favourite Arts subjects. Schools will have a high degree of flexibility over implementation.